Disclaimer: I don't own the TBs or the Tracys with the exception of Sam and any original characters developed because of her.
A/N: Sorry for the long delay in updating but life has again gotten in the way of writing. Thanks for the continued reviews and support of this story. Cathrl, Misty63, Fayesy, and FaeriePhoenix it is nice to see reviews from you. Andrew, thanks for giving me some ideas for the end of this chapter and future chapters.
Chapter 26
"Scott?" Jeff stared down at his son's face with a look of disbelief and hope flashing across his weary features. After a few moments, he pushed the call light on the side of the bed. Carol was in the room within a few minutes.
"Yes?" she asked, pleasantly. All Jeff could do was point at Scott, unable to form a coherent response. Moving around the bed to get a better look at her patient, she shook her head when she saw what had affected the man across from her so much. "Mr. Tracy, he's not awake. If you'll notice, he is neither blinking nor looking around at anything in particular. This is a common occurrence with coma patients but unfortunately it doesn't mean anything more than that." Unaware of the tears trickling from his eyes, he continued to stare down at Scott's grey eyes. The ventilator kept up a steady whoosh, feeding precious oxygen to his son while the heart monitor's monotonous beeps kept everyone aware that the man before them was still alive. A continuous IV drip kept him hydrated and administered pain medications and antibiotics as needed. A nasogastric tube had been placed to provide nutrients and nourishment until he was able to feed himself again. Wearily and some what beaten, Jeff looked around at all the equipment that helped keep his oldest child safe and comfortable.
"I'm not sure that you'd like being hooked up to all of this stuff," he said softly. Grey eyes continued to stare up at the ceiling; the only movement was the occasional blink to keep his eyes moist. Gradually, the normally serious and watchful eyes fluttered closed. Jeff wiped a shaky hand over his face and was surprised to find his hand was wet. A slight rapping at the window startled him and he looked over to see Virgil and Nicole with a nurse. Taking a deep breath, Jeff wiped his face again before going out to see them.
"Dad, I received clearance from my doctor to come and visit with Scott for a few minutes," he said from his wheelchair. "The only catch was I had to sit back and enjoy the ride." Scowling up at his nurse, he cautiously stood up. "I can walk in on my own. Nic, I'll be back in a few minutes. Why don't you and Dad go to the waiting room and relax while I visit my brother?" Silently, Nicole followed Jeff to the waiting room to do just that, wait. Virgil slowly walked into his brother's room and shivered at the coolness of the room. Sitting down in the chair next to Scott's bed, he took his brother's hand into his own and began to talk.
"Hey Scotty, I finally made it up here to see you. Sorry that I haven't been able to before now but my doctors wouldn't let me. I think Grandma changed their mind. For some reason, I don't believe that they had the fortitude to stand up to our dear grandmother." Chuckling softly at the vision of their diminutive and elderly grandmother scaring his doctors, Virgil stared at his big brother. "That's something that even you would find funny, Scott. Despite what Gordon and Alan say about you being a stick-in-the-mud, I know that you enjoy a good laugh just as much as they do." Pausing again, he took a shaky breath and exhaled. "You know, big brother, this would be the perfect time for you to wake up. It's Christmas Eve and I can't think of a better present that the family would love to have." Crying softly, he stood up from the chair and leaned over until his forehead was touching Scott's. His tears dripped uninhibited onto his brother's face, unnoticed. "Please Scotty, wake up. I need you to wake up and be alright."
"I know that voice. Why is he pleading for me to wake up? I'm too tired to wake up. I just want to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet. Or at least it would be quiet if he'd stop muttering."
"I'm sorry but visiting hours are over for now," Carol said from the doorway. She'd seen the young man in the hospital issued clothes slowly walk into the room before long she'd noticed that her patient's heart monitor had displayed an increase in his heart rate. Virgil looked over at her and shook his head.
"I can't leave him until he wakes up," he argued. "He's always looked after us and I have to look after him now." Deliberately, he took Scott's slack hand within his own and gingerly sat back down in the chair. He ignored the nurse's presence and focused on his brother.
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"Daddy, we go see Santa Claus?" Lucy asked from where she was helping her Uncle Alan put Christmas decorations on the tree. Samantha was sitting on the floor playing with Nick, Julie, Dani, and Benny. Johnny and Mikey were helping Alex and Catie like Lucy was. Tin-Tin was busy wrapping the garland around the banister. Kyrano was in the kitchen preparing lunch for everyone.
"What do you think, Honey? Should we take them to see Santa?" From her spot on the floor, she appeared to look around the room though the adults knew better. Alex had made her put the gauze back on her eyes when he'd seen how irritated they were when she got back from visiting her brothers at the hospital. Placing the gauze in just the right way, it couldn't be seen with her sunglasses on. Before she could answer, the doorbell rang and Alan called out that he would answer it. A mumbled conversation followed by him calling for Samantha to come to the entryway. Tin-Tin came into the family room to take over playing with the youngest children while Alex helped Samantha.
"Samantha, this is Officer Colenso." Sam stiffened at the introduction and tightened her grip on Alex's hand. Unable to see, she wasn't aware that the officer had extended his hand in greeting.
"I'm sorry, Officer, but my sister can't see you," Alan said quietly. "Her eyes were injured in the accident." An awkward silence ensued followed by a nervous cough by the police officer.
"How may I help you?" Sam asked after the silence grew uncomfortable.
"I have a few questions to ask about the accident you were involved in on the evening of December 23rd. Is there somewhere we can talk so that you'll be more comfortable?" he asked. With a barely perceptible nod of her head, Alan led them to their father's home office and started to close the door behind them. "I really just need to speak with Mrs. Murphy." Sam had sat down in a chair with Alex seated in a chair next to her. As a way to reassure herself, she kept a tight hold of his hand.
"I would be more comfortable with my husband here with me," she countered. "You'd have to eventually speak with him anyway because he and two of my other brothers were the first to arrive at the scene of the accident and to call for help."
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"Dad, the police are here talking to Sammie about the accident." As soon as he had closed the door to Jeff's office, Alan had hurried to the kitchen to call his dad. "I wouldn't be surprised if they show up there next to speak with Virgil."
"How did Samantha react to the officer's presence?"
"Awkward because he offered to shake her hand and she couldn't see it." Noticing that Kyrano was looking the other way, he snatched a fresh baked cookie from a tray on the counter.
"What do you mean she couldn't see it?"
"Alex saw how red and irritated her eyes were and made her let him put the gauze over them again. Only this time, it was done in a way that her sunglasses hide the gauze so as to not frighten Nick and Dani." It was then that he noticed the frown on his father-in-law's face. Grinning slightly, Alan shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry, Kyrano, but I'm hungry."
"Alan, how bad is it? Does she need to be seen by the doctor again?"
"I don't think it's that bad. More that she just didn't follow the doctor's instructions and now she's paying for it in more ways than one."
"I take it that Alex has managed to make her listen to reason."
"Not only did Alex get her so did Catie. And if you thought that John was protective of Sammie, Catie can be worse. It seems that John told her about the whole mess with Nicole and Sam. Well, you know how close Sam and Catie have been since they met in New York at the old boarding school."
"I know how close they are. I just hope that Samantha and Nicole can continue to work through this. I expect that things will still be strained and forced for awhile yet but hopefully not too long. I best get back to Scott's room. I left Virgil there while Nicole and I came to the waiting room."
"Dad, you have been talking about Nicole and she's been there this whole time?"
"She went down to the cafeteria with your grandmother to eat some lunch and stretch a bit. Her back was beginning to hurt from sitting so long."
"Alright, we'll see you when you get home. Oops, I forgot, I think we're taking the children to see Santa. Lucy was asking if we could and I believe that's what we're going to do after Sam is finished. If John is there, you might want to let him know that Catie will probably go with us. He can meet us at the mall. We should be there within an hour."
"I'll let him know. I doubt that he'll want to miss seeing Julie and Nick sitting on Santa's lap. Talk to you all a bit later."
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"Remember that time you went into our bedroom when we lived on the farm and found that Sammie and Johnny had decided that our room was too bland without any kind of space design on the walls or ceiling? I don't think that I've ever seen Dad that upset with them. They must have been eight-years-old at the time. Gordon was impressed with the way the whole thing went and I'm sure that's part of where he got some of his ideas from. Mom had her hands full with trying to calm Dad down and keep Gordon from trying something else that would have added fuel to the fire. Sammie and Johnny stayed well away from Dad and you. Personally, I thought that they had done a pretty good job with the permanent markers that they had used to draw the planets on the wall by your bed and the Milky Way by my bed." Forcing himself to stay calm, Virgil kept up with the memories as they came to him.
"Scotty, you need to wake up." The soft voice was warm and familiar to him. A voice that he'd only heard in his dreams since that horrible day when she had sacrificed her life in order to save John and Samantha.
"Mom?" Looking up, he realized that she was sitting on the ground with her back against a tree. He had his head in her lap just like he had done when she was alive. They had their special time out in the far edge of the field where a lone tree stood. She would sit down and he would lie down with his head resting on her lap. Quietly, he would tell her about whatever interested him at the time and she would listen while running her fingers through his hair. It was the most special time between mother and son, a memory never to be forgotten no matter what.
"Yes, Sweetie, I'm here." He could feel her fingers in his hair and the coolness of the breeze lightly blowing.
"Where are we? How is this possible?" Too many questions flooded his mind at one time and he gazed up at her with uncharacteristic uncertainty.
"You, Virgil, and Samantha were in an accident. You hit your head when the SUV rolled down into the ravine. The airbag also hit you resulting in the coma you have been in for part of the last twenty-four hours. Things are going to be hard for you for awhile but you will get through it with the help of our family. You must have patience with yourself and others. As for how is this possible, I promised that I would always be here for you and your brothers and sister."
"What do you mean? Am I paralyzed or something?"
"No, but the part of your brain that controls speech and emotions was shaken a bit with the force of the accident and that is going to cause some problems with your speech and you'll be prone to some emotional outbursts until you fully heal. My dearest son, please take things as they come and don't be so hard on yourself when you aren't up to the level you're accustomed to. Now wake up, someone who loves you very much is waiting for you."
"Mom, I miss you. Can I please stay awhile longer with you?" Tears threatened and he tried to blink them away rapidly. Scott Tracy never cried in front of anyone, his pain was his own.
"Oh, Baby, I'm always with you. I'm right here." A warm glow settled over his chest where she placed her hand. "I love you, my little pilot, and I'm so proud of the man you have become." Gradually, she faded from his view and in her place was a plain white panel.
Watching his brother for any signs of waking, he was surprised to see Scott's eyes open. "Scotty?" This was the second time he had opened his eyes since Virgil had come into the room and Virgil waited to see if he would look around or if his stare would remain fixated on the ceiling as before. A quick blink and his eyes began to dart around in confusion until he saw his brother. Moving his right hand slowly, he felt for Virgil's hand. Blinking back his tears, Virgil hit the call button for the nurse as he grasped his brother's hand.
"Scotty, the nurse will be here in a moment," he said through the tears that he couldn't hold back any longer. "We're in the hospital and so that you know, you're on a ventilator and you've been in a coma." Scott listened to him talking and struggled to recall what had happened that he'd need to be in a hospital.
"Yes?" The evening shift nurse, Kelley, had just come on duty and was aware that Virgil had blatantly refused to leave his brother's side. Once the doctor had been made aware of the problem, he'd decided that as long as Scott didn't show signs of agitation Virgil could stay.
"He's awake," sobbed Virgil, giving into his emotions. "He's awake." Kelley hurried to Scott's bed and checked for herself. Quickly checking his vitals, Kelley glanced at the man sitting next to her patient. Unabashedly, tears coursed down his cheeks all the while he gripped his brother's hand as if letting go would destroy them both. Pushing a button on the bed to call in the doctor, Kelley couldn't help feeling as if she were witnessing a Christmas miracle. A harried-looking doctor came into the room.
"Yes?"
"Doctor, Mr. Tracy here has just woken up within the last five minutes." The doctor looked down at his patient and smiled.
"Well, Mr. Tracy, it seems that you're giving your family a bit of a Christmas present, aren't you?" Scott tried to speak but began choking on the tube in his throat, his right hand tried to grab the tube. Virgil grabbed his hand and held it tightly within his own. The doctor continued to speak. "Try to relax and listen. I'm going to shut the ventilator off and I want you to try to breathe on your own. If you can breathe without any problems, I'll remove the tube. Do you understand?" Virgil glared angrily at the doctor.
"He's not slow," he snapped. The doctor looked over at him before he spoke up.
"I need to make sure that he can follow directions, Sir," he replied, patiently. "As you are well aware, this man has suffered a head injury. We do not know the extent of the damage at this time." Making eye contact with Scott, he asked him if he was ready. "Are you ready to breathe on your own?" Scott slowly nodded his head in agreement. Kelley flipped the switch that controlled the ventilator and watched her patient. After a panicked moment, Scott could be seen gasping for breath. Instantly, Kelley hit the switch again and they watched as he was able to breathe again. Wiping the sweat from his brother's face, he watched his eyes carefully.
"Do you want to try again, Scotty?" Nodding his head, Scott made his wishes known. Kelley shut the ventilator down again and they all watched as Scott took a shallow breath on his own, followed by another stronger one. Before longer Virgil was quietly congratulating his big brother for something as simple as breathing.
"Scott, I'm going to remove the tube but I'm going to need your help," the doctor told him. "When I say blow hard, I want you to do just that, alright?" When Scott had weakly nodded his head in agreement, Kelley removed the tape holding the tube in place and the doctor pulled on it. Blowing as hard as he could, he gagged towards the end of the tube. As hard as he tried to stop it, he couldn't help getting sick all over himself and the bedding. Groaning weakly, he closed his eyes in embarrassment when he noticed that he had managed to get Kelley as well. Virgil quickly wiped his brother's face with a clean end of the blanket and hurriedly bundled it up before putting the soiled bedding in a hamper in the corner of the room.
"Mr. Tracy, it's quite normal to have that reaction following extubation." The doctor glanced at Kelley with a knowing smile. "Go change into some fresh scrubs and I'll have another nurse come in and keep an eye on your patient until you get back."
"I'll be back in fifteen minutes," she replied. It was taking all of her self-control not to vomit as a reaction to the overwhelming smell of the fluid that fed her patient. She could tolerate any other smell but whatever was put in the nasogastric feeding bags was a smell that could turn the strongest stomach. Hurrying out of the room, she all but ran to the locker room for a quick shower and change of scrubs.
Virgil made a detour into the small bathroom in his brother's room and gathered some warm washcloths and a towel. Arriving back at his brother's side, he gently wiped Scott's face and neck with one of the cloths and then dried him off. Quietly, a new nurse handed him a new gown and then helped him change the bedding. Once Scott was cleaned up and comfortable again, Virgil realized that he'd fallen asleep.
"Mom, why do I have the feeling that you helped push Scott back to us? Samantha and John were right, weren't they? They both told me that you'd always be with us and look out for each of us until it was our turn to join you." Smiling softly to himself, Virgil pictured his mother. "Merry Christmas, Mom, and thanks for ensuring that we will have the best present ever…Scott. I love you."
A sudden rapping on the window drew him out of his thoughts and he looked up to see his dad, grandmother, and wife watching him. Not wanting to leave his brother's side; he grudgingly knew that he had to let them know what had happened.
"I'll be right back, big brother," he whispered. Tiredly, he made his way to where his family waited.
"What happened?" Jeff demanded without preamble. Holding his hand up, Virgil grinned up at his dad.
"He woke up, Dad. I was talking to him and suddenly his eyes opened. I waited a few moments and he blinked before looking around. Once he saw me, he tried to find my hand with his." Tears flowed down his face as all of his emotions caught up with him. Instantly, Nicole was in front of him and holding him close to her. "Nic, he woke up and responded to the doctor. He was extubated when he showed the doctor that he could breathe on his own." Jeff had rushed into the room as soon as he had heard that his son was awake. Virgil and Nicole watched him from the window.
Approaching the side of Scott's bed, Jeff couldn't help the rush of emotions battling for supremacy. Neither acknowledging nor noticing Kelley nor the doctor, Jeff braced for disappointment, afraid that Virgil had been mistaken and that Scott would still be comatose. The first thing he noticed was that Scott's eyes were closed. With a small sigh, he shifted his gaze to where the tubing for the ventilator had been. A small grin played over his stern demeanor when he realized that Scott had made an improvement and was off the vent like Virgil had stated.
"Scott, I know that you can hear me and that you've woken up," he choked out. His hand automatically went to his son's forehead and brushed back the stray hairs. "If you can, will you please wake up again so that I can see for myself?" As if he heard the desperation in his father's voice, Scott wearily opened his eyes and looked in the direction he heard his dad. Struggling to form the correct word, he shook his head in agitation.
"D-d-ad?" That one stuttered word was like music to Jeff's ears and his grin broadened. Fighting to stay awake, Scott shifted in his bed and slowly realized that Virgil wasn't in the room. "V-v-vir…" Perplexed as to why he couldn't say his brother's name, he tried to fight back the panic that was building up in him.
"Are trying to say Virgil?" asked Jeff, noting the look of panic in his son's eyes. Blinking rapidly, Scott struggled to sit up and find his brother. Virgil and Nicole noticed his panicked movements from the window.
"Something's wrong," Virgil muttered. "He's upset about something." Barely aware that he was already walking into the room; he hurried as fast as he could to Scott's bedside. "Scott?" Reaching out a shaking hand, he touched Scott's shoulder to get his attention. Shifting his gaze over to Virgil, he gripped his hand tightly within his.
"V-v-virg." Virgil gently pushed him back against his pillow and tried to soothe his panicked brother. Shaking his head, Scott tried to speak again. "S-s-sa-sam?"
"Samantha is with Alex, Catie, Tin-Tin, and Alan. They took all the kids to see Santa Claus," Virgil told him. "You can't go home yet. You've only come out of a coma and have to get some more treatment."
"No, g-go h-h-ho-home." His agitation was escalating and Virgil and Jeff were getting alarmed. The doctor moved to Scott's side and began to speak in a calming tone.
"Scott, I need you to relax, okay?" Wearily looking for the source of the strange voice, he cringed away from the stranger next to him. "I'm Dr. Broach, on call for Dr. Gallagher tonight. She'll be back tomorrow to check on you."
"H-ho-home," he argued. "Fa-fam…" Frustrated with himself, he looked at Virgil helplessly, pleading silently for him to understand him. "Virgil, why can't I say things properly? I want to go home. Please don't leave me here." Looking around the room in bewilderment, Virgil's gaze finally settled on his big brother. The one sibling he had always had an almost telepathic bond with. It was similar to the one John and Samantha shared.
"How can I hear Scott's voice? He isn't saying anything right now but I can see his frustration." Virgil's thoughts were random but he still gazed down at his brother who appeared confused as well.
"Virgil, I can hear you. You said that you can hear my voice. I heard you say that it but your mouth never moved. I don't understand what's going on but I want to go home. Please take me home to our family." His gaze never left Virgil's as he pleaded silently to be understood. Taking a chance on the unknown, the younger brother began to talk.
"Scotty, I don't understand how I can be hearing you or how you're hearing me. The doctors aren't going to release you when you just came out of a coma and have been in ICU. You're going to have to stay here until they release you, okay big brother?" Growling deep in his throat, Scott's body shook with a barely suppressed anger. Jeff, Kelley, and Dr. Broach watched as the anger continued to build but not sure why he was so angry.
"H-HO-HOME! N-NOW!" He shouted out as the rage continued to build within him. Struggling to sit up, he maneuvered himself until he was sitting up on the side of the bed. His long legs bare and the hospital-issued gown opened in the back, showing his tense muscles flexing in anger.
"SCOTT TRACY! Lie back down before you hurt yourself," snapped Jeff. Meeting his father's stare, he shook his head.
"D-Dad, h-ho-home, p-pl-plea-please." The anger that he had been displaying gave way to pleas to go home again. "I-I'll b-be…" Biting his lip, he tried to think of the word that he needed. "G-go-good. Pl-plea-please, D-d-dad." Tears pooled in the corners of his eyes as he grappled for a normal level of speech and emotional balance.
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"How did you know Mark Wellington?" Samantha drew back in horror at the name of her nemesis.
"He tried to interview me when I was a freshman at Harvard. I never knew him. He just terrorized me and my family for the last ten years. During that time, he has beaten me up, tried to kidnap me, abducted John and tortured him, abducted Alex and Benny, and now has caused a car accident which resulted in my brother being in a coma and another brother suffering from broken ribs." Trying to maintain a cool composure, she took a deep breath.
"Why didn't you just let him interview you?" Snapping her head up at the callous question, Sam's slight hold on her anger snapped.
"I don't give interviews and I don't submit to threats either. I'm done answering questions from you. I have given my statement and any further inquiries can be directed to my attorneys." Standing up, she turned to where Alex had been sitting. "Alex, will you please show Officer Colenso to the door." Suddenly the office door burst open and Alan tumbled into the room.
"SAMMIE, HE'S AWAKE! SCOTTY'S AWAKE!"